Joe for Joes: Support our military and their families

Published: October 20, 2013

Four months ago Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said that “we will need to be partnered with governmental agencies, but importantly, the private organizations for the foreseeable future if we hope to have any chance of doing what’s right for these men and women who serve their country so selflessly.”

Today, no statement could ring more true. Recent events remind us that our communities cannot rely solely on government agencies to support those who serve our country. It is not only the responsibility of government, but also our communities as a whole, to meet the needs of service members, veterans and their families who have given so much to build this great nation.

The Florida Military Family and Community Covenant is a Florida not-for-profit organization focused on supporting efforts to connect agencies, organizations, resources and employers for the purpose of meeting the needs of service members, veterans and military families at the local level. Our mission is to bring communities together to provide sustainable resources and aid to these families who have already sacrificed so much.

While our service men and women are away fighting for our daily freedoms, we want them to be comforted knowing that their families are taken care of here at home. When they return home, we want to welcome our military members back with open arms and provide them with easy access to services that will help them readjust to civilian life.

To do this, FMFCC is trying something new. We plan to raise money through a biannual coffee campaign through which proceeds from every bag of joe will support Florida’s military communities. We will ship coffee from Nov. 17 to Dec.17 and from April 1 to April 30. Order forms are available on our website year-round.

Gen. Dempsey reminds us that “[the Constitution] doesn’t say ‘We the government of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union’; it says, ‘We the people of the United States.’ ” Military families need our community’s support now more than ever before. As ordinary civilians, we can do extraordinary things together as a community.

Learn how you can make a difference by visiting fmfcc.org.

Rae Pike

Tallahassee

The writer is the director for the Florida Military Family and Community Covenant Inc. (FMFCC). She can be reached at [email protected] or (850) 673-7981.

tbo (Tampa Bay Online) provides local news and information for Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and communities throughout Tampa Bay. Originally published by The Tampa Tribune, tbo is now among the portfolio of brands powered by the Tampa Bay Times.